Journal binder



Aug. 14, 1951 w. -c. HAMILTON JOURNAL BINDER Filed July 11, 1949 Fig.

28 32 William 0. Hamil/an 1N VEN TOR. Fig. 3

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Patented Aug. 14, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOURNAL BINDER William C. Hamilton, Esther, Mo. Application July 11, 1949, Serial No. 104,104 I 2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a binder for paper sheets or the like and the subject matter of this application represents an improvement in the subject matter of my co-pending application Serial No. 44,559, filed August 16, 1948, Patent No. 2,506,357, dated May 2, 1950, under the title Journal Binder.

The objects of this invention are generally the same or closely related to the objects recited in the said co-pending'application for patent, and additionally to provide means further facilitating the adjustment of the binder to accommodate the greater number of paper sheets or the like.

Another object of this invention, similar to the foregoing specific objects, is to provide means for adjustment of the binder back strips and covers to an infinite number of relative positions, that is, an infinite number of spacings, within the limit of the device.

With these and other objects, clearly in view, this invention resides in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of elements and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail in the specification, particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing which form a material part of the specification, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a binder constructed in accordance with this invention, and without any sheets of paper or the like in the binder;

Figure 2 is a view of this invention, similar to Figure 1 but showing the parts as positioned when a number of sheets of paper are being held in the binder;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the threaded plug referred to hereinafter by that name; and

Figure 4 is an elevational view of a part of the sectionalized post, this section shown in Figure 4 being adapted for terminal engagement with the section of the post illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, when a longer post than that shown in Figures 1 and 2 is required.

Similar characters of reference designate similar or identical elements and portions throughout the specification and throughout the different views of the drawing.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, this invention is adapted to be used with an environment including a plurality of sheets of paper or the like indicated at Ill. The binder includes a pair of back strips l2 and I 4, which are pro- 2 vided with similarly bifurcated portions l6 and I8 to receive covers 20 and 22, and it will be noted that these covers are pivotally secured within the bifurcated portions by transverse pivot pins 24 and 26.

A bushing 28 is rigidly secured within a bore in the back strip I2, and this bushing is provided in duplicate or in triplicate as dictated by the size and character of the binder, and it will be noted that the bushings are coextensive in length with the thickness of the back strip [2. The bushings are internally threaded as indicated at 32, to receive a threaded plug 34 having an enlarged portion 36 and a reduced threaded portion 38, the reduced portion being disposed on that side of the plug adjacent the back strip l4. The threaded plug 34 has a tool slot 40 to receive a screw driver or. like implement, whereby the plug can be adjusted longitudinally of the bushing 28.

A post is used for adjustably spacing the back strips I2 and I4, one section of this post being indicated at 42, while the second section thereof is indicated at 44 in Figure 4, it being understood that when only a small number of sheets of paper or the like I0 is being accommodated by the binder, a single section 42 may be emplayed.

The end 46 of the section 42 is screwed tightly upon the reduced threaded portion 38 of the plug 34, the post section 42 being hollow and threaded as indicated at 48, as is the section 44, the corresponding threaded bore in the section 44 being indicated at 50. The other end 52 of the section 42, and the corresponding end 54 of the section 44 are each provided with enlarged threaded bores. It should be carefully noted that the opposite end of the section 44 is provided with a reduced externally threaded portion 56 which may be screwed into the internally threaded portion 52 of the section 42, when a post comprising at least two sections is necessary. Of course, it will be understood that more than one section 44 may be provided.

This invention is adapted to be used with keepers, generally indicated 58, or other locking means of suitable form. These keepers 58 are described in detail in the above mentioned copending application for patent. Each keeper includes a bowl-shaped member 60 having reciprocably mounted therein a plunger 62 with a button actuator thereon and a ring 64 on the internal end of the plunger. The ring 64 actuate a pair of crossed shanks 66 which may be of spring character and the plunger may also be spring biased as indicated. One end of each shank 66 is secured to the bowl-shaped member 60 and the other ends of the shanks carry members 68 which adjustably engage the bore 48 of the section 42 or the bore 50 of section 44, according to the number of sheets of paper H! in the binder, and according to the number of sections such as those sections indicated at 42 and 44 which are used. It will be understood that the ring 64 on the inner end of each plunger 62 engages the crossed shanks at the point where the shanks cross each other and that longitudinal movement of the plunger will control the radial movement of the members 68.

The operation of this invention will be clearly understood from a consideration of the foregoing description of the mechanical details thereof, taken in connection with the above recited objects and the drawing. It will be clear that all the objects recited in this specification are amply achieved by this invention, and that enlargement of the binder may be achieved, first by shifting the plug 34 within the bushing 28, and then by addition of a further section 44 or more than one section 44. When a new section is added, it will ordinarily be desirable to retract the plug nearly as far as possible and again progressively advance the plug as new sheets of paper it] are added during use.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A binder for paper sheets or the like comprising a pair of opposing back strips, a pair of opposing covers pivoted individually to said back strips, bushings fixed to one of said back strips, plugs longitudinally adjustable in said bushing, hollow posts each secured at one end portion to said plugs, and means for securing the other end portions of said posts to the other back strip, said plugs being threaded into said bushings and having coaxial reduced portions extending toward said other back strip, said posts being secured to said reduced portions, said posts being divided into sections terminally threaded together to facilitate alteration of the lengths of said posts, said other back strip having bores extending therethrough, and said posts being longitudinally slidable in said bushing and said bores, and releasable keepers to fasten the posts to said other back strip.

2. A binder for paper sheets or the like comprising a pair of opposing back strips, a pair of opposing covers pivoted individually to said back strips, bushings fixed to one of said back strips, plugs longitudinally adjustable in said bushing, hollow posts each secured at one end portion to said plugs, and means for securing the other end portions of said posts to the other back strip, said plugs being threaded into said bushings and hav ing coaxial reduced portions extending toward said other back strip, said post being secured to said reduced portions, said posts being divided into sections terminally threaded together to facilitate alteration of the lengths of said posts, said other back strip having bores extending therethrough, and said posts being longitudinally slidable-in said bushing and said bores, and releasable keepers to fasten the posts to said other back strip, said sections having axial threaded bores and said keepers including members adjustably engaging said threaded bores.

WILLIAM C. HAMILTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 17,209 Great Britain' l- 1 912 

